WORLD TRADE CENTER PROPERTY
Since the World Trade Center (WTC) tragedy thousands of items of personal property has been recovered from Ground Zero, the Fresh Kills site and the Medical Examiner's Office at Bellevue Hospital. This property has been invoiced by the NYPD and is in the custody of the NYPD's Property Clerk Division. The majority of property consists of documents such as credit cards and pieces of identification. The Property Clerk Division's mission is to return all items of recovered property to its rightful owner or next of kin in the most professional and sensitive manner while adhering to guidelines imposed by local law. The Property Clerk Division is keenly aware of the sentimental value of these items and will make every effort possible to identify the owners and return the property regardless of its condition or monetary value. To assist in the often difficult process of identifying the owner of a piece of property, additional personnel resources have been dedicated to this effort such as Detectives, electronic technicians and even volunteers from the private sector e.g. jewelers. Serial numbers, inscriptions, even electronically stored information in cell phones and pagers are utilized in an attempt to identify the owner of a piece of property. Items which cannot be initially linked to an owner, are digitally photographed and bar coded for future identification efforts. This identification process will continue indefinitely and all property recovered from the WTC will be retained until claimed by its owner or next of kin. Regulations which permit the destruction/auction of unclaimed property after a specific holding period have been suspended with respect to all property, recovered from the WTC.
Guidelines for the return of World Trade Center Property recovered at the Medical Examiner's Office
When the identity of a deceased person from the WTC Tragedy is established, Detectives from the NYPD's Missing Persons Squad notify next of kin. The Detectives will also notify the next of kin of property recovered with the deceased and provide them with an NYPD property voucher number. The next of kin may then contact the Mayors Office -Community Assistance Unit, 51 Chambers Street, New York, NY (212) 788-7418 and they will arrange for the immediate return of the recovered property. Property recovered from Ground Zero and the Fresh Kills site
When the owner of a piece of property is established, the NYPD's Property Clerk Division will notify the owner or next of kin via US Mail with complete instructions for claiming the property. The property is available at the NYPD's Manhattan Property Clerk's Office located at Police Headquarters, 1 Police Plaza, New York, NY Room S-20, Street Level. For the convenience of claimants, a special window has been designated at this facility solely for the return of WTC property so that victims or their next of kin will receive expedited service. A person who is notified that their property has been recovered may pick up their property simply by presenting adequate identification at the Manhattan Property Clerk's Office. Next of kin, who are seeking to obtain the property of a deceased victim, must first obtain authorization to pick up the property from either the Surrogate's Court if the deceased had a will or the Public Administrator's Office if the deceased person did not have a will. Under normal circumstances the Surrogate's Court or the Public Administrator's Office in the deceased's county of residence would have jurisdiction in these matters, however for the convenience of WTC victims, special arrangements have been made with the New York County Surrogate's Court and Public Administrator's Office whereby they will also resolve these issues no matter where the deceased resided. Both of these offices are located in the New York County Surrogate Court Building, 31 Chambers Street, New York, N.Y., and is approximately one block west of the Manhattan Property Clerk's Office in Police Headquarters. A copy of the NYPD's Property Clerk Voucher is necessary to receive authorization by either the Surrogate's Court or the Public Administrator's Office to obtain property of a deceased person. Claimants who do not have this document may obtain a copy at the Manhattan Property Clerk's Office. Questions relating to the return of WTC related property may be directed to the following:
NYPD-Manhattan Property Clerk's Office (646) 610-7202
Mayor's Office-Community Assistance Unit (212) 788-7418
New York County Surrogate Court (212) 374-8233
New York Public Administrator's Office (212) 788-8430
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH JEWELRY?
Jewelry is the most personal and has the most value to many claimants, particularly family members. Jewelry is also among the most difficult of the items to connect with the claimants. The condition of the pieces varies widely and the number of pieces with obvious investigative signposts (ie. readable inscriptions or serial numbers) has been small. Of the 1,350 jewelry items identified as such, some 1,100 pieces are left. Because it is expected that many claims (and duplicate claims) will be forthcoming, a separate and comprehensive computerized claim system is nearing completion and will be introduced in the next several months. A questionnaire will be available on a secure website as well as in paper form. Claimants will be able to register and will be asked for identification and pertinent information, such as relationship to the victim and worker/survivor information, contact information and a PIN # will be assigned.
The more information that can be supplied about an item being sought, the better. Such information will include: serial numbers, inscriptions, purchase or insurance receipts, brand or make, metal content (ie. 14k gold, sterling), size, jeweler's inscriptions and photos (do NOT send original photos). Family members can begin gathering information this summer in anticipation of the questionnaire being made available this fall. Once they have this information can be pulled, they may contact the Property Clerk's office; however we have been advised that if families wait to use the computerized system, their requests may be able to be verified more quickly. It is the expectation of the Property Clerk's office that where possible, the claimant can be matched with an identifiable piece within 6-9 months. The Clerk's view is that accuracy is more important than speed so that the claim can be absolutely verified and in compliance with the law.
Please remember: First, in the case of multiple claims, the Property Clerk's office will NOT make the determination as to who the rightful claimant is but will defer the decision of the Surrogate Court in your location as to the legal next of kin. Second, the condition of much of what has been identified as "jewelry" may have been altered or be difficult to match to a photograph or description. There is no certainty that because you can provide the information that the piece has been located or can be identified.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
The last pieces to be addressed are those items about which is most difficult to make any determination. Further forensic and other tests will be run and every effort made; however, they emphasize with great sensitivity that some of the items (whose images we saw) may never be identified as to what they are, let alone to whom they might have belonged. The Property Clerk is optimistic that 90% of what has been recovered has or will be identified and returned. Please note they have been advised that the number of items recovered is in no way commensurate with the number of items that may have been in possession of the victims at the time of the attacks.
Contact Information: Property Clerk's Office
Inspector Jack Trabitz
NYPD, Property Clerk Division
One Police Plaza, Room 208
New York City, NY 10038
(646) 610-5903
Families/survivors can also visit their website at www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/ssb/pcdindex.html.
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